Apparatus with display

ABSTRACT

A (display) device ( 31,4,5 ) contains multiple panels ( 3,7 ) like e.g. displays. Every display can be used to display its own content and can be rolled out of a sub-housing ( 5 ) like e.g. a cartridge separately. In different configurations the same cartridge can be arranged in such a way that the panels are used for a separate functionality or multiple display panels form one big screen.

The invention relates to an electronic assembly comprising an electronicapparatus and a panel device, the panel device having a first panelprovided with driving electronics, the electronic apparatus beingprovided with means for exchanging control parameters with the paneldevice.

The invention furthermore relates to a panel device for use in such anapparatus and to a housing for at least two such panels.

The panel device may be a touch screen or a display device belonging toone of the groups of liquid crystal display devices, electrochromicdisplay devices, electrophoretic display devices and reflective displaydevices including an interferometric modulator and luminescent displaydevices. The display devices may be passive or active matrix displaydevices. Examples of such active matrix display devices are TFT-LCDs orAM-LCDs, (O) LED devices, which are used in laptop computers and inorganizers, but also find an increasingly wider application in GSMtelephones.

Such matrix displays are generally addressed by means of selection lineswhich periodically address (a group of) selection lines or rows, e.g.via switches such as TFT (MOS)-transistors, while at the same time data(voltages) are provided via (a group of) data lines or columns. So“control parameters” is meant to comprise these driving signals, but mayalso comprise other interface signals between the display device(module) and the electronic apparatus. Similar remarks apply to thecontrol and sensing of the touch panel or any other panel which is usedin an interface mode with the electronic apparatus such as e.g. a frontlight or back light panel, or a panel controlling 3D effects. For manyapplications this should preferably be a standard interface. It may forinstance comprise signals like a vertical synchronization pulse, ahorizontal synchronization pulse, clock signals etcetera. It may alsocomprise information with respect to the size and resolution or anyother relevant information (color or monochrome) with respect to anapplication.

In many applications nowadays, like laptop computers and organizers (butof course also in GSM telephones) portable (display) devices arepreferred. Portability however goes at the cost of a higher chance ofbreaking the display since most displays are rather fragile systems. Thecosts of exchanging a broken display from a portable device however areso prohibitively high that usually the device is replaced completely.Since 99% of the functionality still remains available, this is a wasteof resources. The reasons for these high costs are twofold. First, thedisplay is molded into the device to give it added strength.Consequently, removing the display entails breaking the device. Second,once the display is removed a new display has to be aligned in thedevice and considering the large amount of connections (tens ofthousands to more than a million) this is a complex task.

In some of these applications also the need is felt to have thepossibility of having more than one display function available forinstance having auxiliary functions available (like dictionaries,specific data bases etc.) without losing sight of the main application.Especially when using a (smaller) mobile electronic apparatus, thisleads to displaying these functions on a too small field

In other applications, especially mobile telephones, a need is felt tohave a display area, which is larger than the area available within thedevice. Introducing rollable displays has solved this need. When movingto rollable displays the above mentioned protective measures have to beomitted while the substrates generally become much thinner and thereforemore vulnerable.

It is one of the objects of the invention to overcome at least partlythe above-mentioned problem. To this end in a first electronic apparatusaccording to the invention the panel device is provided outside theelectronic apparatus and the panel is movable between a first positionand a second position in which the panel device has at least onehousing, which comprises the first panel in one of said first and secondpositions and which housings comprises at least one further panel whichis movable between a first position and a second position at least oneof the panels being rollable or foldable.

Now several panels can be used without interfering the functionsdisplayed on said panels, which overcomes the problem mentioned above.Also one or more of the panels can have an input function, like a touchscreen or a keyboard-like function.

A further application can be found in electronic books in which morethan one (e.g. four) pages are available, introducing the possibility ofthumbing.

The panel generally is movable between a first position in which thepanel substantially is not visible and a second position in which atleast part of the panel is visible. Intermediate distinct positions maybe made available too.

By “substantially is not visible” it is meant that the greater part ofactual panel is not visible to the human eye, be it because it is withina housing or because the panel is in a folded or rolled up position. Thewording “part of the panel” need not refer to a viewable part of adisplay panel. The (display) panel may be realized as both foldable androllable, in which case e.g. a substrate carrying separate (display)panels is rolled out in a folded position, after which it is unfolded.

The invention is based on the insight that rather than making the panelsor displays more robust one can make use of panels or displays inhousings or sub-housings (for instance cartridges) which panels(displays) (and housings or sub-housings) can be discarded after thepanel (display) stops functioning. This is the more attractive whenflexible panels (displays) (e.g. including integrated row and columndrivers) are used and cheap “plastic electronics” become available. Byproviding the (display) panel in the housing or sub-housing the amountof driving electronics within such a housing or sub-housing is minimal,making the use of disposable (display) panels the more attractive.

By providing more than one panel in a housing the functionality isfurther increased leading to the possibilities, mentioned above.

The housing may be stored in an enclosure. Fixing means for fixing thehousing (or a sub-housing) in the enclosure may be selected from thegroup of spindle mechanisms, clicking mechanisms, magnetic fixing andgluing. This opens the way to providing disposable display panels, whichmay be (temporarily) stored in such enclosures.

The panel device and the electronic apparatus may be mechanicallyinterconnected or mechanically interconnectable, dependant on the kindof use. Also wireless communication is possible. This enables the use ofsuch panel (display)devices in more than one apparatus and even opensthe possibility of “loading” such devices with data, similar to loadingbadges, credit cards or similar devices.

A preferred embodiment has a housing comprising a sub-housing for eachseparate panel.

If one of the sub-housings is slidable along a central axis (andpreferably also rotatable along said central axis) very compactcartridge-like devices can be obtained.

In one embodiment the sliding device comprises driving electronics whilethe sub-housings may have a sliding device in common.

A preferred embodiment has a housing comprising at least two panels,each separate panel being rollable from a separate axis. In such adevice a driving device, which is rotatable, is preferably used.

These and other aspects of the invention are apparent from and will beelucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.

IN THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the use of a rollable display device in mobile applications

FIG. 2 shows embodiments of the invention having a panel device with areplaceable display panel and/or touch panel according to the invention,

FIG. 3 is an electrical equivalent of a part of a rollable display paneland/or touch panel according to the invention,

FIG. 4 shows a housing of a device according to the invention,

FIGS. 5 and 6 show an embodiment of a device according to the inventionto realize the applications as shown in FIG. 2,

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 show a further embodiment of a device according to theinvention,

FIGS. 10 and 11 show another, further embodiment of a device accordingto the invention, while

FIG. 12 shows a housing of another device according to the invention and

FIGS. 13 and 14 show another, further embodiment of a device accordingto the invention

The Figures are diagrammatic and not drawn to scale. Correspondingelements are generally denoted by the same reference numerals.

FIG. 1 shows the use of such a display panel in a first kind ofapplication. In FIG. 1 ^(a) one typical example is given viz. the use ofdisplays in an apparatus 1 in this example a mobile telephone. A typicaldisplay (panel) of the mobile telephone has dimensions of e.g. 2 cm×3cm, whereas the mobile telephone itself has dimensions of e.g. 4 cm×10cm. A panel device 2 comprises a rollable display 3, which is providedinside a housing 4, 5, 31 and may be interconnected to the mobiletelephone (apparatus 1) via interconnecting pins 6. The housing in thisexample comprises two different parts 4, 5, the display panel 3 in thisexample being situated in sub-housing 5 in its rolled form, while part 4comprises further driving electronics and e.g. batteries. FIG. 1 ^(b)shows the unrolled display 3, which has dimensions of e.g. 10 cm×15 cm.In FIG. 1 ^(b) unrolled display 3 is interconnected to the mobiletelephone (apparatus 1) via interconnecting pins 6; this however ispurely illustrative since a major part of applications will not usemechanical contacts, since more and more information is exchanged viaelectromagnetic coupling. The housing 4, 5 can be realized on such a waythat the use of a replaceable panel (e.g. a replacement panel or a panelof another size, dependent the kind of application) is possible

According to the invention (FIG. 2 a) the panel device also comprises afurther panel 7 in this example a replaceable touch panel 7 both panels3, 7 being situated in sub-housings 5 again in their rolled form. In onekind of application the touch panel is keyboard (for typing purposes)having touch contacts 9 comparable to keyboard buttons or to touchbuttons of a telephone. Another kind of application is shown in FIG. 2 bin which two viewers 8, 8′ each have command over touch panels 7, 7′while results are displayed on display screens 3, 3′. Both touch panels7, 7′ communicate with a central control unit, making interactive use bydifferent viewers possible (if necessary via the apparatus 1). Thismakes the panel device 2 useful for e.g. gaming.

One of the advantages of having a replaceable display device or displaypanel is that it can be used on several apparatuses, provided somestandardization has been agreed upon (display size, and if necessaryhandshake protocols).

FIG. 3 is an electric equivalent circuit diagram of a part of a possible(display) panel 3 according to the invention. It comprises in onepossible embodiment (one mode of driving, called the “passive mode”) amatrix of pixels or touch elements defined at the areas of crossings ofrow or selection electrodes and column or data (sensing) electrodes. Therow electrodes are consecutively selected by means of row drivers 11(via interconnection patterns 13), while the column electrodes areprovided with data via data registers 12. On the other hand the dataregisters 12 may contain sensing electronic when the panel is used as atouch panel (part of the sensing electronics may on the other hand berealized in apparatus 1 or in housing 4). Mixed solutions are of coursepossible e.g. realizing these electronics (partly) in the housing 4while the display panel has some simple electronics only.

To this end, further interconnections 13 between the row drivers andconductive pads 37 and between the data (sensing) registers andconductive pads 37 are provided on the flexible substrate 10. Referencenumeral 14 represents the actual display or touch area.

In another possible embodiment (another mode of driving, called the“active mode”) signals from the row drivers select pixels or sensingelements via thin-film transistors (TFTs) whose gate electrodes areelectrically connected to row electrodes while the source electrodes areelectrically connected to column electrodes These ways of drivingdisplay devices are generally known in the art. In other modes, alsogenerally known in the art such matrix devices can be used as touchpanels to detect touching using other detection schemes.

FIG. 4 schematically shows how part of the substrate 10 is fixed withina sub-housing 5. The sub-housing 5 in this example comprises a(spring-loaded) rolling device 17 for rolling up the flexible (display)substrate 10.

Support hinges 16 may reinforce the mechanical stability of the totalconstruction. Furthermore in this example a locking mechanism 19 isschematically shown to lock the housing parts 4, 5 together when thedisplay is in a rolled position. To release the (flexible) displaydevice 3,10,14 again the housing part 4 has a push button 18.

The housing part 4 in this example comprises a printed circuit board 20.On the printed circuit board driver chips 21 and electricalinterconnections 22 to interactive push buttons 18 (or other interactiondevices) are provided together with electrical interconnections 22 which(via conductors 23) contact the array of contact pads 38, which may makecontact to contact pads 37. The contact pads can be located on bothsides of the display foil (as shown here) or only on one side. Also, itshould be noted that this housing part 4 can contain further chips,batteries and in particular antennas to enable e.g. an RF link betweenthe apparatus 1 and the display device 2, rather than through electricalinterconnections 25 or between the display device 2 and the displaypanel 3, rather than through the connecting parts 6 drawn in FIG. 4.Especially the driver chips 21 or further circuitry on printed circuitboard 20 may be used for the implementation of a (standard) protocolconcerning the exchange of information, e.g. how to use different kindsof display panels (with different number of lines, number of columnsetcetera) in different kinds of apparatuses. On the other hand it may beuseful to provide as much control circuitry as possible in the apparatus1

In this example the housing part 4 comprises two parts 4 ^(a), 4 ^(b)between which the display panel 14 (the flexible substrate 10) can beclamped for contacting the connecting parts 6 to conductors 23 (in thisexample double sided contacting is shown). In another embodiment thehousing 4 may comprise only a slit to introduce display panel into areceiving section. The contact pads will be aligned with the display'scontact areas through alignment pegs or recessions (holes 24) in thesubstrate 10 or any type of optical or mechanical feedback mechanism forproper alignment. Since the display will typically contain only a fewcontact pads these contacts can be large and therefore a rough alignmentis sufficient.

The sub-housing 5 contains the rolling device 17 for rolling up the(flexible) display substrate 10. This sub-housing 5 in this example alsocomprises two parts 5 ^(a), 5 ^(b). The mechanism is designed in such away that it can only open when the display panel 14 (the flexiblesubstrate 10) is fully rolled out. Then, separating of the two parts 5^(a), 5 ^(b) will lock the spring-loaded roll-up mechanism so that itcannot roll back while the two parts are separated. In this fullyrolled-out position the recession 26 (in the rolling device 17 in FIG.4) for loading the display panel 3 is for example pointing downwards.The display panel 3 can then be unhooked from the hooks 27 (in therecession 26 in FIG. 4) that grab (and hold the display during normaloperation as a result of the spring the rolls up the display) by movingit in the roll-up direction. The roll-up mechanism is locked in order toachieve this unhooking and a new display (foil) can then be applied overthe hooks 27 (which will also serve as an alignment means in combinationwith holes 28 in the display, see FIG. 3). Upon closing of the two partsthe spring is released and the new display is rolled up again.

In FIG. 4 a further sub-housing 5′ contains a similar rolling device forrolling up the (flexible) touch substrate 10, 7 rolling towards theopposite case in this example; in this way the device 2 of FIG. 2 a isrealized.

In the embodiments shown above the sub-housing 5 is separated from thehousing part 4 when the rollable panel parts 3, 7 are made visible butas can be seen from FIG. 5 in another embodiment a group of sub-housings5 is situated along a housing part 4, while the panel parts 3, 7 can beextracted from said sub-housings as indicated by arrows 30. The deviceof FIG. 5 comprises four sub-housings 5, each containing a rollingdevice 17, which has been described more in detail with reference toFIG. 4. The assembly of sub-housings 5 and housing part 4, in thisexample has a common housing 31. Although the sub-housings 5 and housingpart 4 have been drawn with a square cross-section, they may havecircular or other cross-sections, comparable with e.g. those of filmsfor photography or cross-sections of inkjet cartridges. The device ofFIG. 5 is suitable for a function as described with reference to FIG. 2b.

FIG. 6 shows a device having a housing part 4 and sub-housings 5, whichhave circular cross-sections. In the embodiment of FIG. 6(a) each panelhas its own driving section 40 as described with reference to FIG. 4.The embodiment of FIG. 6(b) has a common driving section 41. The commondriving section 41 is able to rotate around an axis 42. In this examplethe driving section 41 comprises driver chips 21 on a cylindrical body43. By rotation to a specific point electrical contact is obtainedbetween said driver chips 21 and conductive pads 37 on the panels 3, 7via a spring contact 44.

The device of FIGS. 7 and 8 comprises two sub-housings 5 comprisingpanels 3, 7. In this case one or both of the sub-housings 5 may slidewith respect to an axis 45. This is reached in this example by acylindrical housing 46 having spaces 49 for the housing parts 4.

After sliding (see arrow 47 in FIG. 9(a)) one of the sub-housings 5rotates around axis 45 (see arrow 48 in FIG. 9(b)) to obtain a two-partdisplay device having, in the case of a display device, both theirdisplay function directed towards a viewer 8. It goes without sayingthat one of the panels may have a touch function in stead of a displayfunction. In this example the housing part 4 also functions as a pullinggrip. Information retrieval for different sbdisplays is done either in acentralized way (when all housing parts 4 are present in the cylindricalhousing 46, which also may comprise driving electronics; information maybe provided to driving electronics in the cylindrical housing 46 or inhousing parts 4 by electromagnetic radiation or by electromechanicalcontacts, not shown in FIG. 8) or in a decentralized way (housing parts4 need not be present in the cylindrical housing 46; information isprovided to the housing parts 4 by electromagnetic radiation).

The device of FIG. 10 shows two sub-housings 5 which are folded aroundan axis perpendicular to the drawing (see arrow 53 in FIG. 10) by usinga hinge 50. By folding two sets 51 of two of such sub-housings 5, whichsets are foldable around an axis 52 in the plane of the drawing ayardstick-like construction is obtained (FIG. 11) In this example adevice showing four panels on top of each other is obtained by firstunfolding sets 51 (see arrow 53 in FIG. 11) and then unfolding thesub-housings 5 of each set (see arrow 54 in FIG. 11).

The sub-housing 5 of FIG. 12 contains two rolling devices 17 for rollingup the (display) substrates 10, e.g. a display screen and a touchscreen, while using two separate axes 55.

FIGS. 13 and 14 respectively schematically show a view and across-section of a further embodiment in which the housing parts 4,5have a circular cross-section while three (two in FIG. 14) housing parts4,5 in the one (substantially) unrolled state fit into each other arounda central axis 60. After pulling or sliding the housing parts 4,5 out,the panels 10 can be unrolled to provide a combination of (in theexample of FIG. 13) three different (display) panels.

These applications will be most attractive of course if a standard forthe housings is agreed upon and if a (standard) protocol concerning theexchange of information exists, e.g. how to use different kinds ofdisplay panels (with different number of lines, number of columnsetcetera) in different kinds of apparatuses.

The protective scope of the invention is not limited to the embodimentsdescribed, while the invention is also applicable to other displaydevices, for example, (O) LED displays, and other housing devices.

On the other hand the electronic apparatus 1 may be suited for differentapplications (e.g. both a telephone application and a calculatorapplication) which each have different kinds of (display) panels (withdifferent number of lines, number of columns etcetera). The displaypanels may even be realized in different technologies, e. g.(O)LED-technology for one display panel and LCD technology for anotherdisplay panel.

In many of the possible applications the rolled out display area neednot be visible from one single side. On the other hand the rollabledisplay panels may be viewable from two opposite sides.

Also the interconnection between the apparatus and (part of) the displayneed not be of an electromechanical kind, such as shown. Electromagneticcoupling (infrared radiation) may be used to provide data to the displaydevice or to the display panel.

Several mechanisms as known in the art for attaching a rollablesubstrate (film) to the housings or for storing the sub-housing 5 may beused.

The invention resides in each and every novel characteristic feature andeach and every combination of characteristic features. Referencenumerals in the claims do not limit their protective scope. Use of theverb “to comprise” and its conjugations does not exclude the presence ofelements other than those stated in the claims. Use of the article “a”or “an” preceding an element does not exclude the presence of aplurality of such elements.

1. An electronic assembly comprising an electronic apparatus and a paneldevice, the panel device having a first panel provided with drivingelectronics, the electronic apparatus being provided with means forexchanging control parameters with the panel device, the panel devicebeing provided outside the electronic apparatus and the panel beingmovable between a first position and a second position in which thepanel device has at least one housing, which comprises the first panelin one of said first and second positions and at least one further panelbeing movable between a first position and a second position at leastone of the panels being rollable or foldable.
 2. An electronic assemblyaccording to claim 1 being suitable for displaying information via adisplay device, at least one of the panels being a display panel.
 3. Anelectronic assembly according to claim 1 or 2 the housing comprising asub-housing for each separate panel.
 4. An electronic assembly accordingto claim 3 at least one of the sub-housings being slidable along a firstaxis.
 5. An electronic assembly according to claim 4 at least one of thesub-housings being rotatable with respect to the first axis.
 6. Anelectronic assembly according to claim 5 in which the sub-housings havea sliding device in common.
 7. An electronic assembly according to claim6 in which the sliding device comprises driving electronics.
 8. Anelectronic assembly according to claim 6 the panels being rollable withrespect to a common axis.
 9. An electronic assembly according to claim 4at least two of the sub-housings being rotatable with respect to eachother along a first axis.
 10. An electronic assembly according to claim9 at least one further sub-housing being rotatable or foldable withrespect to a further axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis.11. An electronic assembly according to claim 3 in which thesub-housings have a driving device in common.
 12. An electronic assemblyaccording to claim 11 in which the driving device is rotatable.
 13. Anelectronic assembly according to claim 1 the housing comprising at leasttwo panels, each separate panel being rollable from a separate axis. 14.An electronic assembly according to claim 1, the panel device and theelectronic apparatus being mechanically interconnected or mechanicallyinterconnectable.
 15. An electronic assembly according to claim 1 thedriving electronics in the panel device and electronic circuitry in theelectronic apparatus being interconnectable by electromagnetic coupling.16. An electronic assembly according to claim 1, the electronicapparatus comprising a controller for selecting at least one applicationfor the panel device and further comprising memory means for storing atleast panel parameters related to said application and means forproviding said parameters to an interface between the electronicapparatus and the panel device.
 17. A panel device having a first panelprovided with driving electronics, the panel being movable between afirst position and a second position in which the panel device has atleast one housing, which comprises the first panel in one of said firstand second positions and at least one further panel being movablebetween a first position and a second position, the panels beingrollable or foldable.
 18. A panel device according to claim 17 thehousing comprising a sub-housing for each separate panel.
 19. A paneldevice according to claim 18 at least one of the sub-housings beingslidable along a first axis.
 20. A panel device according to claim 19 atleast one of the sub-housings being rotatable with respect to the firstaxis.
 21. A panel device according to claim 20 in which the sub-housingshave a sliding device in common.
 22. A panel device according to claim21 in which the sliding device comprises driving electronics.
 23. Apanel device according to claim 19 the panels being rollable withrespect to a common axis.
 24. A panel device according to claim 19 atleast two of the sub-housings being rotatable with respect to each otheralong a first axis.
 25. A panel device according to claim 24 at leastone further sub-housing being rotatable or foldable with respect to afurther axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis.
 26. A paneldevice according to claim 18 in which the sub-housings have a drivingdevice in common.
 27. A panel device according to claim 26 in which thedriving device is rotatable.
 28. A panel device according to claim 17the housing comprising at least two panels, each separate panel beingrollable from a separate axis.
 29. A housing for at least two panels,the panels being rollable or foldable between a first position and asecond position, which housing comprises the panels in one of said firstand second positions.
 30. A housing according to claim 29 the housingcomprising a sub-housing for each separate panel.
 31. A housingaccording to claim 30 at least one of the sub-housings being slidablealong a first axis.
 32. A housing according to claim 31 at least one ofthe sub-housings being rotatable with respect to the first axis.
 33. Ahousing according to claim 32 in which the sub-housings have a slidingdevice in common.
 34. A housing according to claim 33 in which thesliding device comprises driving electronics.
 35. A housing according toclaim 31 the in which the sub-housings have a common axis.
 36. A housingaccording to claim 31 at least two of the sub-housings being rotatablewith respect to each other along a first axis.
 37. A housing accordingto claim 36 at least one further sub-housing being rotatable or foldablewith respect to a further axis substantially perpendicular to the firstaxis
 38. A housing according to claim 31 in which the sub-housings havea driving device in common.
 39. A housing according to claim 38 in whichthe driving device has rotating means.